Lesson 16

[j T]

Jessica’s Character Intros/Exits
What I learned doing this assignment: Character intro and extro are closely related. If a character shows a need to be fulfilled in the intro, this need must be fulfilled at the end. I had done this for the main character, but not the secondary characters. I was able to give a better ending to the Building Manager (he dies because of his greed) thanks to this exercise)
Current character intro:
• Joanna tries on a new sports top.
• She takes a selfie.
• There’s a hyena behind her (on TV).
• She deletes the photo.
• Takes another selfie.
• Posts it on social.
• Stretches. In Sprinter’s position.

New character intro:
• A show on TV: Preys vs Predator.
• A WOMAN takes her keys near a pile of overdue bills and leaves her apartment.
• The woman, Joanna, is jogging in the park.
• A woman pushing a stroller smiles at her. Joanna runs faster.
• People gives her worried looks as she zooms by. Running fast.
• She sees a MAN SMOKING behind a tree.
• Distracted by the vision, she almost gets hit by a car.
• The driver yells at her: what’s your problem.
• She sees her “problem” reflected in his window: a baby bump. She’s five month pregnant.
• She denies being pregnant.
• The driver says she’s crazy and leaves.
• She pukes on the sidewalk.
(What it does – reveals her ability as a runner and the weakness – denying her pregnancy – that she’ll have to overcome at the end)
Fitting ending:
• She makes peace with her father and leaves the urn in the rabbit shed.
• Takes care of the beast’s puppy.
• Talk to her baby.
• Walks towards the house she inherited.
(Meaning, she forgave her father, stopped running away, and is now accepting her pregnancy)

Mrs Larsen Character intro:
• Larsen peaks in hallway and mistakes Joanna for cleaning lady.
• When asked, refuses to answer questin: there’s not pets allowed here. (Mrs Larsen want: to hide the fact there’s a starving beast in storage locker)
(Why it’s fitting intro: shows she’s hiding a secret and is not ready to talk and tell the truth, she hides what she knows, feeling guilty about John’s death)

Mrs Larsen extro:
• Tells the origin story of the beast.
• Full of guilt for causing death of John, her neighbour, the man she loved. (by not feeding beast)
• Joanna forgives her. (Mrs Larsen’s need: to be forgiven)
• She dies, having found peace.
(This is a fitting ending because she was full of guilt, and now she can be at peace)

Building Manager intro
• Caught stealing items from apartment (wants: money)
• Takes a glass of water, scanning for items on shelves
• Gives Joanna 3 days to empty palce or she’ll owe 1 month rent. (want: more money)
• Gives Joanna business card of removal company (wants; more money)
Action shows primary traits: greedy thief.

Building Manager Character ending:
• He wants to get something valuable (fromlocker where beast is)
• He gets attacked by beast.
(It’s a fitting ending: he dies because he is greedy, he gets punished for his greed)

 

• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  j T.

[Tasha Espinoza]

Tasha’s Character Intros/Exits

What I learned doing this assignment is that it's very important to be able to come up with new scenarios for your characters especially regarding their intros and exits. A producer and/or actor is going to ask for changes and if you want to get a writing credit, you need to show them you can give then the changes they require, so you can stay on the job.

Beats of Bethany’s intro

Beginning: Bethany is doused with holy water and Demon 23 emerges from her chest hanging halfway out of her.

Middle: Demon 23 makes Bethany drop her boyfriend from a second story window and crush Deacon Anders’s shoulder.

End: Bethany uses her own spiritual instincts and ultimately exorcises herself with a late assist from Father Ptolemy.

Bethany’s New Intro:

Character’s Philosophy – Bethany treats people with kindness….unless she's not herself.

Beginning: In the high school cafeteria, Bethany happily gives Queen Bee, Andy, the new-age pin she found at Bargain Bazar because Andy admires the pin's upbeat New Age message. Despite Bethany's excitement for Andy's birthday party, Andy tells her she's been waitlisted because of the perfect ratio of boys to girls that have already rsvped, including Bethany's boyfriend Joseph.

Middle: As Bethany walks away saddened by the news, Andy's says something that triggers a horrific change in Bethany. Suddenly Bethany is on Andy, screaming profane accusations, her eyes unnatural and wild. She is pulled off Andy by some football players, but in a display of extreme strength, she shrugs off the football players restraining her, weirdly contorts her body and drags a screaming Andy under a cafeteria table.

End: When Andy's screams go silent, a burly football player bravely looks under the table and Andy suddenly emerges. The football player grabs her. With great effort, he and a few fellow teammates pull her out from under the table. Bethany is hooked to Andy's waist, smiling gleefully, her eyes an unnatural yellow. The football players pull Bethany off of Andy. Bethany slides back under the table, but she catches the side of the table before she goes completely under it. She appeals to a football player to help her. Her eyes are normal. Her demeanor is sweet and scared. The football player dives over to the table and grabs her hand. She smiles, her eyes turn sinister and she pulls him under the table with with unnatural strength and speed.

Beats of Bethany’s exit

Beginning: Bethany joins Robby at a restaurant

Middle: Robby has a demonic attachment that Bethany exorcises.

End: Bethany finds Koju in the restaurant for their date and they kiss.

Bethany's New Exit

Beginning: She goes on an actual date with Brad, but realizes she doesn’t want to date him. She finds Koju and tells him she’s not ready to be in a long term relationship. She needs to find herself. She tells the kids she has to go and do some soul searching but gives them her number and tells them she will always come running if they need her.

Middle: Months later, she has established herself in a new town and in a new job.

End: One night, she gets a call. It’s Chantal. She’s out of the youth home and on her own. She says her new roommate scares her and asks Bethany if she can come help. Bethany grabs Deacon Anders’s bible, which has been de-corrupted, and tells Chantal she can be there in a few hours if she drives straight through.

Beats of Deacon Anders’s intro

Beginning: Paralyzed with fear as he participates in his first exorcism.

Middle: After getting his shoulder crushed, he tries to kill Bethany to stop the evil. Father Ptolemy wrestles him to the ground.

End: Deacon Anders tells Father Ptolemy he will never fail him again and is made to escort Bethany out of her childhood home after she is rejected by her family. He swears to Bethany’s father that he will watch her.

Deacon Anders’s New Intro
The Reveal Opening

Beginning: Deacon Anders mentors a sick child in a dark room. He is forceful and confident as he ministers to the sick child.

Middle: The child starts to act out like it’s possessed and takes over. Deacon Anders calls cut and asks for house lights and as the house lights go back on, we see that he’s been directing a play for the church. He chides the group and reemphasizes that the play is about acts of services performed by the church, not the Exorcist.

End: Father Ptolemy’s go-to Deacon for exorcism support is no longer at the rectory. The only person available is Deacon Anders, so he is assigned to go. Deacon Anders is delighted because he’s told they will be administering to a sick girl named Bethany. He grabs his camcorder and tells his production staff he will record his work with Father Ptolemy to show the actors and hopefully inspire better performances.

Beats of Deacon Anders’s exit

Beginning: Deacon Anders, now an inmate, is escorted to a visitor’s booth.

Middle: His visitor, Elena Watkins, introduces herself and Deacon Anders thinks it’s a joke the warden is playing on him.

End: Elena Watkins offers to show Deacon Anders true power and reveals that she’s Simon Dobre and that she has the Codex.

Deacon Anders's New Exit

Beginning: Deacon Anders is in his prison cell and he’s visited by Demon 23.

Middle: Demon 23 says he’s going to teach Deacon Anders the error of his ways.

End: Demon 23 explains that if he fails, he will take the Dark Deacon to Hell.